PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said every Barisan Nasional (BN) leader and member should refrain from questioning the candidate to be fielded to represent the party at the Hulu Selangor Parliamentary by-election on April 25.

IN JOVIAL MOOD: Najib (third left) shares a light moment with some of the political secretaries at the luncheon. Also seen are political secretary to the prime minister Datuk Fatmi Che Salleh (left) and political secretary to foreign minister Datuk Norhaidi Che Dan (fifth left). — Bernama photo

On the other hand, the Prime Minister said they should accept whatever decision made by the party and cooperate in ensuring victory for the BN candidate.

“Regardless (who the candidate is), don’t raise the matter concerning the candidate. Whoever is decided by the party as the candidate… heavy or light, we have to carry.

“You have to carry the candidate chosen by the party. Don’t complain… criticise,” he said when addressing guests at a luncheon for political secretaries at his office, here yesterday.

Earlier, the MIC was reported to have asked for the Hulu Selangor Parliamentary seat to be retained by the party but there were talks that the grass roots wanted the candidate to be from Umno.

Nomination day for the by-election has been fixed for April 17 but polling day will be on April 25.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said earlier that the BN candidate for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election was expected to be announced on April 15.

Najib said every BN member and leader must give their cooperation and work as a team to ensure victory for the party’s candidate.

“We must be a collective team player. (Probably) today it is Umno, tomorrow MIC, the day after MCA, subsequently other parties in Sabah and Sarawak if there’s a by-election. We don’t know…,” he said.

The prime minister said the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election was most important to the BN to maintain the momentum of the people’s support for the party now. — Bernama